It was just the beginning of the monsoon season, and the morning air was filled with a sense of serenity and freshness. The tree's swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves glistening with droplets of rain. The scent of wet earth lingered, and the soft pitter-patter of rain created a soothing melody. Sia, who usually enjoyed such mornings, was up early today, quickly completing her household chores. There was a sense of urgency in her movements because today was a special day. They were to attend the engagement ceremony of Amita, the daughter of Ram's brother. But beneath her brisk actions, something felt off.
Sia couldn’t shake the overwhelming feeling of melancholy that had settled over her. Meera, her
elder sister, kept coming to her mind. It was around 10 AM when the weight of her emotions
became too much to bear, and she suddenly broke down in tears. Ram, noticing her distress,
rushed to her side.
"Sia, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?" Ram asked, his voice filled with concern.
Wiping her tears, Sia replied, "I don’t know, Ram. I just don’t feel good... I feel... empty." As soon
as she said this, she fell silent, lost in her thoughts.
Ram watched her with worry but didn’t press further. He knew Sia well enough to understand
that something was deeply troubling her, something beyond what words could express. As they got ready to leave, Sia's silence continued. It was unusual for her to be so quiet, and Ramcouldn’t help but notice.
As they drove towards Ram's ancestral home, Sia softly said, "Ram, I can’t stop thinking about
Meera today... I miss her so much."
Ram, trying to lighten the mood, smiled and said, "Don’t worry, Sia. We’ll stop by Meera’s house before heading to the engagement. You can spend some time with her." He added with a
chuckle, "And today, I’m going to have some of that special tea your sister-in-law makes. It’s
been too long."
Sia managed a weak smile and then, almost absentmindedly, started reminiscing, "Do you
remember, Ram? When we were children, one rainy day, Meera and I were supposed to go to
school. The river was swollen, and we had to take a boat to cross it. But both of us just stood bythe riverbank, watching others get on and off the boat. We stood there until it was noon, lost in the beauty of the rain. When we got home, our parents were furious. They scolded Meera a lot,
especially because I was the younger one. She took the blame for both of us. That night, Meera
cried herself to sleep, and the next day, she had a fever. She was always so calm and gentle,
even when she was hurting."
As Sia recounted the story, a distant look filled her eyes. The memory, though years old, felt
fresh in her mind, and the thought of Meera brought a pang of longing to her heart. The car ride continued in silence, with everyone lost in their thoughts. Sia’s mind kept drifting back to Meera,her heart heavy with an inexplicable sense of dread.
As they approached Meera's house, Megha, their daughter, decided to call Mosami,
Meera’s daughter, to inform her of their arrival. The phone rang, and as soon as Mosami
answered, she started sobbing uncontrollably.
"What's wrong, Mosami? Why are you crying?" Megha asked, alarmed.
But Mosami couldn’t respond. Her sobs grew louder, and Megha’s concern deepened. Then,
Mosami’s aunt took the phone and said, "Meera aunty has been injured, and we've brought her
to a hospital in Ahmedabad."
Megha's voice trembled as she asked, "Aunty, is it serious? Is she going to be okay?"
Hearing this, Sia felt a cold wave of fear wash over her. She immediately called her brother, her
hands shaking as she dialled. When he answered, his voice was steady, but there was an
underlying tension.
"Meera is in the ICU, but she’ll be fine," he said quickly before hanging up. The call was
abrupt, and Sia couldn’t shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong.
Her heart raced as she dialled her uncle's number, hoping for some reassurance. But as soon as
he answered, Sia blurted out, "Uncle, what happened to Meera? Is she okay? Please, tell me
the truth!"
Her uncle's voice cracked with emotion as he struggled to find the words. Finally, he said,
"Meera... she’s left us, Sia."
The world seemed to stop in that moment. The words echoed in Sia’s ears, but they didn’t
seem real. "No... no... this can’t be happening," she thought, as tears streamed down her face.
She let out a heart-wrenching cry, one that shook everyone in the car.
Ram immediately pulled over to the side of the road. Sia was inconsolable, her body
shaking with sobs. She felt as though a part of her had been ripped away, leaving behind a
gaping void. The closer they got to Meera’s house, the more unbearable the pain became.
When they finally reached the house, Sia rushed inside. Her legs felt heavy, and her heart
pounded in her chest. She found Meera lying still in one of the rooms. The sight of her sister, so
peaceful yet so lifeless, was too much to bear. Sia collapsed to her knees, memories of their
time together flooding her mind.
The room was filled with a soft breeze, making Meera’s hair gently sway. It was as if nature itself
was mourning the loss of such a beautiful soul. The house was soon filled with people, all urging
to prepare for the final rites.
Meera’s face looked serene, almost as if she was simply resting. When they dressed her in
her final attire, she looked just like the young bride from 25 years ago, the day she had married.
The sindoor on her forehead, the red mark of marriage, and her radiant appearance made Sia’s
heart ache even more.
Meera's daughter, Mosami, approached her mother, tears streaming down her face. She clung
to her, kissing her repeatedly, crying out, "Mommy, please wake up... just once... Mommy!"
But time had come for Meera to take her final journey. Sia, still in shock, moved closer to her
sister, placing a trembling hand on her forehead. In a voice choked with emotion, she
whispered, "Meera, rest in peace, my dear sister. Don’t worry about Mosami. I will take care of
her, I promise... just rest now."
And just a few hours later, Meera was reduced to ashes, her vibrant presence now confined to a
small pot. Sia stood there, staring at the photo of her beloved sister, now adorned with a garland
of sorrow. The reality of it all was too much to bear, but she knew that Meera's memory would
live on in her heart, forever cherished.
